What is digital etiquette? Sounds like a simple question; one that most people should be able to answer. However, when I log into the cyber world, it's hard to believe that the answer is known.
While searching the internet for information about the aforementioned question, I was bombarded with search results referencing digital citizenship. Because I'm the kind of person who refuses to move on until I fully understand a concept, I looked a little deeper into digital citizenship. According to a presentation by Anna Clifford, digital citizenship is defined as the norms of appropriate and responsible behavior in regard to technology. Also associated with digital citizenship are nine themes of which digital etiquette is number five (for the other eight themes, look at this site). Both of these sites refer to digital etiquette as the standards of conduct one adheres to when using technology. Clifford further explores digital etiquette by stating that digital etiquette involves respect for yourself and others.
I think this is where responsible social interactions should enter the discussion. Respect for yourself and others could be considered the foundation of responsible social interactions. When posting to social media we should ask ourselves, "If another person posted this, would I be mad/sad/angry/frustrated/embarrassed/etc.?" When the honest answer is yes, perhaps a different post should be used or reworded, perhaps a picture should be deleted, or perhaps motives should be reexamined. The unintentionally mean (or purposefully mean) text, post, video, picture is considered cyber-bullying. If you want more information, visit this the StopBullying site here.
It's important that students continually learn about etiquette and responsibility with technology early in order to form habits of respect early on.
P.S.: In my search for knowledge, I came across this site. It's great for introducing kids to the concepts mentioned in this post.
I really enjoyed reading this post. I like how to you made an easily accessible link to where you found your information. I agree with you 100% that respect for yourself and others could be considered the foundation of responsible social interactions, I think that when, like you mentioned, if you think how certain words, post, pictures would make you feel it might make you think twice about what you put out there. I think you made some very interesting and detailed points.
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